Spade and like digging-tool



a F. 1. DANNf SPADE AND LIKE DIGGING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1919;

1,353,459. A PatentedSept. 21,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. J. DANN SPADE AND LIKE DIGGING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. I919.

1,353,459. 7 Patented 4 TT'Y.

rnnnnnicr: JAMES entree staresearasr caries.

DANN, or cooNrEsrr-ronrn, 'ENGILANE), ASSIGNOR JAMES BARTl-IOLOMEVI, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

To WALLACE SPADE AND Linn DIGGING-TOOL.

1 To all whom it may concern:

exertion required in using the same and-the consequent fatigue due to prolonged digging. i The invention isdesignedto obviate the necessity for lifting the load by bodily raising the instrument after it has been inserted into the ground as in digging operations.

The invention consists-in combining with the digging instrumentme'ansby which the said instrument is converted into a lever of the first order and by which the load can be raised without bodily. lifting the instrument and can alsobe turned .or moved on its fulcrum so as to deliver the load.

The invent-ion comprehends the combination with a digging tool or instrument of a stand or fulcrum mova-bly attached thereto and upon. which thetool, after it has been forced into the ground, can be'moved to' raise the earth thereon and rotated suf- 'ficiently to discharge or turnover the load before. depositing it upon the ground adjacent to the spot from where it was dug out or lifted. 7

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect reference is made in further describing the same to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figures 1 2 and 3 illustrate the use of the invention asapplied to a fork and show respectively the actions of inserting the fork' into the ground, levering up the sod or spit of earth, and the final operation of turning the same over.

Fig. 4 shows one form of stand or fulcrum.

Fig. 5 is a view at right. angles to Fig. showing an alternative form of clip.

Figs. 6 and 7 indicate alternative methods Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. tra jz'r,

1919. serial'No. scams.

of retaining theclip in position on the shaft of. the fork.

aeemease t. 21; 1-920.

' Fig. 8 represents another construction of stand or fulcrum.

Fig. 9 shows the upper part of the stand,

provided with a swiveling head;

Throughout the drawings like parts are designated by similarreference characters. Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the fork is provided with a stand or fulcrum consisting of an upright element 'orl'pillar Zhaving a base 3 for resting on the ground; suchfbase being extended in one or more directions as shown to permit of the operators footbeing placed thereto to steady it and hold it inposition whilethe digging is performed. The said stand may either be built up of tubular metal column V secured to a wooden base as indicated. in

Fig. 4 or comprise a single casting of alu-- minium or other light metal or material as shown in Fig. 8. L The upper part of thestand is provided with means to engage the shaftl of the tool; I,

so as to afford it an approximately uniVersal movement as may be required by the manipulation ofthe' user. Conveniently for this purpose a metal clip 5 is located around the shaft and the two ends of the cliplareextended in parallelism so as to constitute two lips 6 which are located in a recess in the upper part of the stand anda bolt 7 is passed through the one side of the stand.

then through the two lips mentioned and finally through the opposite side of the stand and secured. by a threaded nut or equivalent means so that thesaid clip and tool shaft can be freely moved up and down thereon in lever fashion. Thi freedom "of movement is further enhanced by meansiof the roller 8' Which is preferably grooved peripherally to provide a bearing for the shaft of the tool and is mounted so as to be .7

free to rotate 0n the-center part of the bolt 7 between the lips 6 of the clip as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. g

The clip is retained in position'on the shaft of the tool in such a: manner asto allow the latter to be rotated therein to turn over the load after it has been removed or For this purpose, as shown in' dug up. Fi s. 1, 2 and 3, the shaft 4 of the tool is provided with a screw or equivalent projection 9 which may either be screwed into a tapped hole inthe metal part of the tool'or carried by a detachable metal collar secured around the tool shaft. In either case the said screw or projection is adapted to engage a slot 10 in the clip. Instead of slotting the clip however the same eifectImay be obtained by means of the alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 6 where it will be 'seen that the clip 5 is loosely retained in position on the shaft 4 of the tool by means of a loop or strap 11 which may be of metal 1 or leather and securely fastened to the said shaft by a pair of screws. In order to avoid the necessity of either slotting the clip or of drilling and tapping the metal part of the tool for the reception of screws'the tool shaft 4: may be provided with a detachable metal band 12, see Fig. 7, having ears or lugs 13 between and by which the clip is loosely retained in position on the shaft.

l Vith the object of facilitating the attachment and removal of the stand or fulcrum to and from the tool the clip 5 may as shown in Fig. 5, be made in two parts hinged together at 14 and provided at the free ends with suitable fastening means such as hinged stud 15 on one part adapted to en gage a slotted lug 16 on the other part and to be secured thereto by means of a fly nut 17 or. the like.

Provision for adjustment in the height of the stand or fulcrum may be made for ex ample by making the pillar or column thereof of telescopic construction. i 7

With a view also to provide forincreased freedom of movement particularly when turning over the load the upper part or head of the stand through which the bolt 7 passes may be made to swivel as shown in Fig. 9, wherein, at is the shaft of the tool, 5' is the clip and 8 the grooved roller.

The tool is used by forcing the acting end into the ground in the usual. way as inclicated in Fig. -1.

Upon the end of the shaft or handle being lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2

to lift the loadthe stand or fulcrum comes into contact with the ground behind it and thereafter the tool is operated as a lever, the stand forming the fulcrum. Lowering the handle end of the lever raises the spit or earth from the ground and by rotating the shaft in the aforesaid slot 10 in the clip as shown in Fig. 3 the spit or load is-discharged.

What I claim then is 1. An attachment for a digging tool comprising a stand, a clip movably mounted on the stand and adapted to loosely embrace- 3. An attachment for a digging or like tool comprising a stand, and a clip pivotally mounted in the upper end of the stand and adapted to embrace the shaft of the tool and allow rotation of same therein said clip having a slot therein through which a screw may be passed into the shaft of the tool.

4. An attachment for a digging tool comprising a stand, a c'lippivotally mounted in the upper end of the'stand, saidgclip-being made in two parts hinged together and adapted to embrace and fasten about the shaft of the tool and allow rotation of the same therein, a roller mounted in the stand and situated inside the clip to form a bearing for the tool shaft, and means to retain said clip in position on the said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification; FREDERICK JAMES DANN. 

